Nonglare lens



Nov. 30,1926. 1,609,256

- W. M. KUPCHIN A, NONGLARELENS Filed F'b 23, 1926 Patented Nov. 30,1926.

WILLIAM M. KUPCHIN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TOALEXANDER KUPCHIN, 0]? PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

NONGLARE LENS.

Application filed February 23, 1926. Serial No. 89,952.

This invention relates to lens for headlights, especially headlights formotor vehicles, and has for an object to provide alens of simpleconstruction in which the entire lens will be illuminated so as to beeasily seen by approaching motorists, but in which the-upper part of thelens will be illuminated bya diffused light which is not blinding whilethe lower. part of the lens is substantially unobstructed to brightlyilluminate the road in front of the vehicle. It is also an object of theinvention to so construct the lens that in use it will be rigidly heldin position andwill not settle out of place onto the lamp to injure thesame.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification, similar reference characters being employedthroughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. Inthis drawing,

- Fig. 1 isa vertical section through a headlight showing my lens inposition, the section being substantially on line 11 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the lens and the front securing flange,and

Fig. 3 is a detail section of a portion of the device substantially online 3-3 of Fig. 1, and in a vertical plane at right angles to the planeof the section of Fig. 1.

Thebody of the headlight of any suitable shape is shown at 10,andimounted within this body is the usual parabolic reflector 11.

- Mounted within the reflector so as to be adjustable in the usualmanner to locate its filament in proper relation to the focus of thereflector is the incandescent lamp bulb 12. This bulb is mounted in theusual ad justable socket 13 connected by the-leads 14 to the source ofcurrent. At its open front side the reflector is bent outwardly to forma flange 15 against which the lens 16 is clamped when mounted'inposition. This lens comprises aglass plate having a block 17 on theupper rear portion thereof and extending rearwardly from the plate.

This block is also made of glass and maybe either-integral with theplate or a separate block fastened to the rear surface of the plate.This block is curved on its upper wall 18 to substantially fit the innercurved surface of the reflector 11. This block covers the upper half ofthe lens and extends somewhat below the horizontal center line of the 7lens for a purpose presently to be described. The lower surface 19 ofthis block is preferably inclined downwardly toward the front asindicated on the drawing, and in its rear portion on the under side ofthe block is preferably formed a pocket or recess 20 to receive the lampbulb 12. It is preferred to provide this pocket although it is notabsolutely necessary, but withoutit the inclined wall 19 would belocated higher. It will be apparent from this arrangement that the lowerportion 21 of the lens beneath the lower surfaceof the block isunobstructed and will allow free passage of the light rays while thelight through the upper portion of the lens must pass through the block17 and will be difl'used thereby. Thus the .upper portion of the lens isilluminated with a diffused lightiwliile the lower portion of the lensis practically unobstructed and allows for free passage of the light fori-lluminating the road. Suflicient light passes through the upperportion of the lens sothat it is clearly Visible by an approachingmotorist, but it is non-glaring and willnot blind him, while the fullillumination of the lamp will pass through the lower portion of the lensto illuminate'the road. The downwardly inclined lower wall of the blocktends to deflect a large part of the rays downwardly-onto the road andprevent their rising upwardly so as to blind an approaching motorist.This effect and the distance to which the road is illuminated is alsocontrolled by adjusting the lamp bulb 12 in or out with respect to thereflector.

The downwardly inclined lower wall 19 of the block also gives a variedthickness to the block between the upper thicker portion of the blockand the lower clear portion 21 of the lens, so that there is a gradualchange of illumination from the upper to the lower part of the lenswithout a clear distinct lin separating the two.

As the lower portion of the block l7 extends below. the horizontalcenter line 22 ofthe reflector as indicated above, and as in.

the vertical plane parallel with the front 1.05 7

surface of the lamp the block is substantially circular, the side wallsof the block, indi cated at 23 (Fig. 3), will curve inwardly under thehorizontal center line toward the vertical center line, and therefore,the block will be supported by the side walls of the reflector below thehorizontal center line, and this support will prevent the block slid-- Ying down in use to rest on the lamp bulb 12.

Thereisthe'refore, no danger of the lens shifting downwardly out ofplace to injure this bulb. The lens may be supported in the front flange24 by suitableclips 25 engaging over the edge of this flange,.and toacilitate this mounting the outer edge of the lens may be provided withstraight shoulders26 to cooperate with these clips.

The lens is mounted in position against the front flange of thereflector by the usual cooperating securing means between the frontflange 24 and the body 10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the lens is verysimple in construction, is -so mounted without reconstructing theheadlight as to 'be supported abovethe lamp bulb where it cannot rest onthe same and injure it, and that, although the lens is clearlyvisible'to an approaching motorist, there is no glare or blinding raysof light from the upper portion of the lens while the properillumination of the road is not interfered with; Also as the lower wallof the block 17 is substantially straight in a horizontal directionacross the lens the entire width of the road andeven to the sidesthereof are brightly illuminated. If desired the surface of the recess20 may be dulled so that it will reflect more light downwardly and alsowill diffuse it so as to prevent glare from wet streets.

Having thusiset forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: I

1. A headlight lens comprising a transparent front plate having arearwardly extending block of similar material behind the upper portionthereof having a rear surface curved to fit the upper part of-areflector,

the lower wall of said block being inclined. downwardly toward the frontand leavingthe lower portion of the plate clear, and the upper portionbeing free to transmit diffused light.

2. A headlight lens comprising a transparent-"front plate having. arearwardly extending block of similar material behind the upper portionthereof having a curved rear surface to fit the ppper part of areflector, the lower wall of said blockbeing provided with a recess toreceive a lamp bulb.

I .3. A headlight lens comprising a transparent front plate having arearwardly extending blockof similar material at the rear side of theupper portionthereof adapted to transmit {sufficient light. to give adimmed non-glarelight through the upper portion of the lens and leavingthe lower portion of the lens clear for the full power of the lamp, thelower wall of said block being inclined downwardly toward the front andprovided with an open recess to receive a lamp bulb.

t. In a head light, acurved reflector, a lens at the open side of thereflector comprising a transparent front plate having a rearwardlyextending block of similar material behind the upper portion thereof and.bavinga curved rear wall surface adjacent a rearwardly.extendingblo'ckrof similar material behind the upper portion thereof andhaving curved walls to fit the upper surface of the reflector, the side'walls of the block" being-extended below the horizontal c'enter line ofthe reflector, so that they will rest on the wall of the reflector andthe weight of the lens be supported thereby, the lower wall of saidblock being inclined down wardly toward the front leaving the lowerportion of the lens"unobstructed.

6. In a head light, a curved reflector, a lens at the open side ofthereflector comprising a transparent front plate having a rearwardlyextending block of similar material behind the upper portion thereof andhaving curved walls to fit the upper surface of the reflector, the sidewalls of the block being extended belowthe horizontal center line of thereflector so that they will rest on the wall of the reflector-"and theweight of the lens be supported thereby, the lower wall of said blockbeing inclined downwardly toward the front leavinsz the lower portion ofthe lens unobstructed and provided with a downwardly opening recess toreceive a. lamp bulb, and means for clamping the plate against the frontedge oft-he reflector with the block against the upper walls of therefiector.

Intestimony whereof I aflix m si nature.

VILLIAM M. K P HIN. v'

